Interactive bearing and compass radial survey visualisation showing how three-digit bearings map direction and distance into surveyed area calculations
A single observer with a compass can map an entire paddock
Bearings aren't just compass directions — they're the foundation of radial surveying, where every bearing-and-distance pair from one point turns into a triangle you can measure. Drag the slider to rotate the bearing and watch the surveyed triangle change.
Compass Radial Survey
BEARING 045°
Drag to change the bearing (000° to 360°)
SURVEYED AREA: 154 m²
Bearing Angle
000°090°180°270°360°
Current Bearing
045°
Triangle Area
154 m²
True bearings are always written as three digits measured clockwise from north: 045° not 45°, 008° not 8°. This removes ambiguity in navigation. When solving multi-step bearing problems, sketch the triangle first and identify which sides and angles you know. The sine rule connects opposite pairs (side/angle), while the cosine rule handles situations where you know two sides and the included angle. Back bearings (the reverse direction) differ by exactly 180°, so a bearing of 045° has a back bearing of 225°.
Know This
True bearings are three-digit angles clockwise from north, elevation angles measure up from horizontal, and compass radial surveys calculate area by splitting the region into triangles from a single observation point.